STEEP AND STROUD NEWSLETTER

NO 582 JUNE 2020

LIFE GOES ON

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3 MEMORIES OF VE DAY 8 MAY 1945

In 1945 the Italian Prisoner of War camp was still in the field opposite the Seven Stars pub (see scale map attached showing drawings for a new Police House in Stroud after the War on which the huts from the PoW camp can be seen). On VE day when all we lads were out on the A272 waving flags at the tanks passing, the prisoners started throwing Miss Newman was a middle-aged stones over the fence at us until the lady who taught us PE at school; Major came along and banished most of our teachers were middle them back to their huts. aged as the young ones were (Interesting to note the date of the otherwise engaged. She was quite original map, 1932.) a severe lady in a longish grey skirt Keith Hall and tennis shoes topped with a slightly motheaten pullover; we held

her in some awe. As I cycled home I remember VE day very well. I was from school I passed her working six at the time, and we lived in a on her allotment and ventured a village called Gravenhurst in brave "Hello!" "The war's over!!!", Bedfordshire. That evening a huge she shouted as I pedalled past. bonfire was lit and effigies of Hitler "Hurray!" I replied, "I'll go and tell and Hirohito were ceremoniously Mum", and I hastened home for tea burned. The village green was and to share Miss Newman's good packed, and I was plonked on top of news with the family. an old piano, which my mother Rollo Wicksteed played. Everyone around was In May 1945 I was the First singing and shouting; the fire roared Lieutenant of the frigate HMS Conn. away, and then came fireworks - On VE Day itself we were patrolling nothing very pretty, just hefty bangs. in the North Sea (having just a few I was terrified. days before sunk an enemy David Dobson submarine), and we were ordered into the Norwegian port of Bergen, 4 to conduct a victory parade. I captain of the frigate HMS remember that as we approached Bacchante, returning up channel the jetty we saw about a hundred from exercises in the South-Western German prisoners, formed up in Approaches. In turbulent waters off ranks and obliged to witness our Portland Bill a small yacht was arrival. They were kept there for sighted with sails flapping and a hours and hours, and we felt rather man gesticulating wildly. I stopped sorry for them. the ship to investigate, and we Next day was the day of the parade, heard an anguished cry: "Can you and my Captain decided that I help me please? I think my wife is should lead the parade and be in having a baby!" charge. The ship wasn’t very well The lady in labour was extricated kitted out for ceremonial events, but from the yacht with considerable think we nevertheless put on a good difficulty, and gently deposited on show. It was a great day. the bunk in the only en-suite Stuart Farquarson-Roberts accommodation on board - my On VE Day I was one of 560 Cadets cabin. We had no helicopter, no at the Royal Naval College, doctor, very limited medical facilities evacuated to Eaton Hall, Cheshire, and (unlike today) an all-male crew. after Dartmouth had been bombed No matter; I ordered "Full speed early in the war. I was in my third ahead", and we set off for Portland, term and my voice had just broken, while below frantic preparations putting an end to a promising career were made for emergency as a treble in the choir! I was midwifery. However, to my great pleased that a friend's father, a relief I got the ship alongside in submariner, had just been awarded Portland Harbour just in time, for a a posthumous VC. healthy baby girl was born in the After our Victory Parade we were ambulance on the way to hospital. marched into a huge gymnasium, The confused young husband turned rather like an aircraft hangar, the up much later, assisted by a only place we could assemble for Midshipman replacement crew, and worship under one roof. I still feel later we learned that one of the annoyed that my father, who fought baby’s Christian names was to be in two World Wars, was required to Bacchante. That pleased us all a pay my school fees! great deal. Basil Watson Three decades later, I was the 5

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ADVERTISING IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND VILLAGE WEBSITE If you would like to advertise please contact Ray Street on 892656 or email [email protected] Village website: www.steepvillage.com 6 My Father fought with the 8th Army, ended. My immediate thought was in North Africa and then Italy, that my father would be home including Monte Cassino where he tomorrow! lost a good pal. He visited there My father had a regiment in Austria during a family holiday to Italy in having fought his way from Africa 1976. I got hold of his service record and up the leg of Italy; we didn’t last year and so have also been have him at home for two more doing some reading up on the years. (My to-be husband Robin was events he was involved with to try to celebrating on the Elbe in Hamburg piece together that part of his life. where he had “liberated” a very nice He was back in his barracks in yacht! He had served in Africa, Italy Canterbury by February 1945 and and France and Germany). on VE Day met my mother at the bandstand on Herne Bay sea front. On the 8th May 2020 I telephoned They were married 2 years later. two of my fellow schoolgirls to see what they had remembered: one Ray Street could not remember the evening but I remember VE Day very clearly. I could remember that we were given was nine years old and at a a treat – a charabanc trip to boarding school near Epsom. It was Climping in celebration; the other evening and we were sent for by friend said that VE day was not a Miss Hopkins, the head mistress, to day to celebrate as her father, also go to her drawing room for an a Gunner, had been killed in the important announcement. We went war. down in our dressing gowns and Caroline Glover were told that the war had

USEFUL CONTACTS Newsletter: David Dobson 261344 [email protected] Police Support Officer: John Payne john.payne@.pnn.police.uk Steep Village website: www.steepvillage.com Steep Parish Clerk: Jenny Hollington 267784, [email protected] Stroud Parish Clerk (part time): [email protected] or Elisabeth Foulston 48 Winchester Road, Stroud, GU32 3PG Stroud Village website: www.stroudvillage.co.uk Steep Village Hall: Jenny Hollington 267784

7 HOW ARE YOU COPING ?

VE DAY CELEBRATIONS

Lockdown; Jhon Cosgrove working from home. Steep War Memorial decorated by tenders Suzanne & Tony Knights THURSDAY CLAP IN STEEP Here, on the east end of Church Road, the Thursday evening clap has become a must. The only problem is that we are all so pleased to see one another, we are in danger of forgetting why we are there. Tim and Lynette come out Stroud celebrated VE Day with ringing their cowbells, our First picnic lunches on their front drives World War shell beaten as a gong or spread around a field was no match and has been abandoned. Carol at the THURSDAY CLAP IN STROUD Almshouses played ‘We’ll meet There has been a great turnout in again, don’t know where, don’t know Stroud, from Ridge Common Lane to when’ on her car radio and the rest North Stroud Lane and in between. of us just shout and clap and We had 100% turnout in Finchmead gradually move closer, keeping our Lane last week - which was quite distance of course. We had hoped special to be a part of - and I know that Ben might entertain us with a there have been similar levels of gig, but that hasn’t happened yet. turnout in Stroudfields and Us oldies, I think we are the only Road. I unleashed my ones up here, are given bountiful elephant bell, which normally has to offers of help. How fortunate we are be kept firmly in its cradle! to live in a this village. Jeremy Mitchell Celia Storey 8 PLANTS FOR THE NHS quickly disappear), only to be replaced by more from the many Through an idea for the community willing neighbours. to swap seeds and plants, and as many of us are keen gardeners and Within the first week we had raised with all the garden centres closed, over £150 and after 2 weeks an Hilary Marchant thought it would astonishing £400 and rising. It has be great to set up a stall to raise become a wonderful community money for the NHS. project bringing people together OBVIOUSLY AND IMPORTANTLY COMPLYING WITH THE 2 METRE DISTANCING RULE. We hope it will keep going throughout the summer, with more plants and the vegetables that everyone is growing, and possibly some home made jams, chutneys and eggs too. All the money will be donated to help the key workers and staff in the NHS. Many thanks to everyone who has With the kind permission of John donated so much in plants and Owen, Hilary and Olivia set up a stall time. by Stroud Church, on the corner of Lythe Lane and Ridge Common P.S. We have just reached OVER Lane. Soon donations of annuals, £600 (But we are in need of more perennials, vegetable seedlings and plant and seedling donations) seeds and small posies of cur Olivia Jenkinson and Hilary flowers started to appear, (and Marchant

COPY FOR THE JULY / AUGUST NEWSLETTER as soon as you like but not later than Tuesday 16th June To David Dobson at Downgate Cottage, , GU32 2BE Or [email protected] and [email protected] FOR STROUD to Jeremy Mitchell at Fairlands, Finchmead Lane, Stroud GU32 3PF or [email protected] - tel 267214

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10 BEDALES SCHOOLS during the Coronavirus crisis. Volunteers for the group include From an essential supplies shop to a Bedales student Josh Baty, who has mobile library service, staff and supported the group’s efforts by students at Bedales have rallied to collecting orders from Bedales in a support the local community during wheelbarrow and delivering them on the Coronavirus crisis. foot to vulnerable and self-isolating As the UK entered lockdown on 23 residents. March, Bedales’ Head of Catering Catering isn’t the only department Matt Potts responded to news that at Bedales reaching out to the local many members of the local community. Librarian Ian Douglas community and staff were having has also set up a mobile library trouble getting hold of household service, enabling Steep residents to staples in their local supermarkets borrow books from the Memorial by opening up the school’s larder to Library’s extensive catalogue. With set up a supplies shop. Stocking a some 30,000 books to choose from, range of essentials – from dried residents can access the catalogue pasta and tinned tomatoes to fresh and place an order remotely, and fruit and vegetables – as well as their chosen books are delivered to offering individually packed frozen their door. A number of Bedales meals prepared by the school’s staff have also pledged support for Catering department, the shop the community in other ways, predominantly serves residents in including offering to deliver Steep and nearby Steep Marsh, shopping, collect prescriptions, dog making around 10 to 20 deliveries walk and give lifts to healthcare per day, six days a week. The appointments. statistics speak for themselves – since the supplies shop launched on Outside of the local community, 24 March, 616 chicken breasts, Bedales ICT Network Manager 5040 eggs, 312 loaves of bread and Shane Phillips – who is a serving 460 frozen meals have been volunteer sergeant and medical co- dispatched. responder with Hampshire Police and Ambulance Service – has been In a true sign of community spirit, providing extra support during the the service has been facilitated by Coronavirus crisis. As part of his Steep Volunteer Group, who have role, Shane has been encouraging committed to supporting members the public to adhere to the of the community most in need 11 Oil fired boiler specialists Servicing, Repairs and Installations Central Heating Upgrades Fully Insured & Registered with Oftec 01489 893320 07920 558046 [email protected]

12 Government’s social distancing offer support where we can at this guidelines, as well as responding to difficult time”. day-to-day emergencies. Eleanor Griggs, Communications Manager of As well as the many Old Bedalians Bedales Schools working in the medical sector, two Old Bedalians – Felix Manley and Sasha Bruml – have been fundraising to cover the costs of THE HARROW producing and distributing plastic The Harrow assures us they will visors for healthcare workers who reopen as soon as they get are operating on the frontline clearance from the government, and without the correct PPE. The Design that when they do so the pub will be department at Bedales is also exactly as it was when the family planning to produce visors using the took over some ninety years ago - so equipment in the school’s workshop no plans for indoor toilets, fruit when they receive the raw materials machines or Sky TV. The only other which are in short supply. time that beer was not always available was during the war, when Meanwhile, pupils at Bedales Prep, a modest ration from Gale's Brewery Dunhurst have demonstrated their was shared between several local support for the emergency services Inns. Arthur Dodd, the Harrow during the Coronavirus crisis by Landlord, posted a notice reading: creating artwork for doctors, nurses and other keyworkers currently My bottles are empty, battling to contain and combat the My barrels are dry. virus, as part of a challenge set by So I'm off to the seaside- the Awesome Movement which will Ta! Ta! and Goodbye! see the positive and encouraging During the present dry period Claire artwork shared on the movement’s assures us that Tony's seedlings social media channels. and flowers will still be available Head of Bedales, Magnus when possible with takings being Bashaarat, commented: “These passed to the Rosemary Foundation initiatives are very much in tune with and Macmillan Nurses. There is also the school’s founding motto, ‘Work a valuable list of other sources for of each for weal of all’, and we are supplies including fish and chips on keen to play our part in the Friday evenings in impressive community effort and Square. 13

14 STEEP AND STROUD NEWS

BROADBAND IN HANGERS I get emails from residents about all superfast to 30 Mbps. It is a good sorts of problems, but during the idea to check your broadband speed coronavirus crisis the number one periodically because network issue has been slow broadband. changes behind the scenes can This is hardly surprising since we make a difference. If you search have all been stuck at home where “Broadband speed checker” you will we are reliant on broadband . find several online tools. I like to use the Which Broadband Speed I therefore thought it would be Checker because I suspect that it is helpful to summarise the current the most independent. position. In East Hampshire, there are 1,159 Following a £28m Hampshire properties with broadband speeds County Council (HCC) investment below 10 Mbps which is about 15% programme, superfast broadband of the County total for properties in coverage within Hampshire this category. This is a reflection of currently stands at 96.2% and the the fact that we are a largely rural programme is adding more network district. If you live in one of these this year, via an Openreach properties, you have my sympathy. I contract. However, in East know how frustrating it can be. Hampshire we are slightly lower than the overall County percentage I strongly advise everyone with less at 94.4%. Recent successes have than 10 Mbps first to use the included the roll-out of Fibre to the postcode checker on the Openreach premises for most of Froxfield and website to see whether a Fibre Fibre to the Cabinet for most of product is available to you. Some , and Liss. households are still struggling with a basic broadband package because During the planning of the roll-out, they are unaware that they could superfast broadband was defined order Fibre now. as speeds of 24 Mbps (Megabits per second). However, OFCOM have If Fibre is not available to you now, I recently changed the definition of am afraid there is no magic wand

15 The museum is closed until late 2020 for our £3.7m Pathways into the Past expansion and refurbishment project. Our walks, talks and education programmes continue – find out more about these and our Museum Road- show activities via our website: www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

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16 which can improve your speeds improving. 5G could be a game immediately. I do however have changer for remote rural properties some positive things to share! There over the coming 18 months. The are two options which you can government and industry are pursue now, and there are two committed to full 5G coverage possibilities in the near future which across the UK by 2022 and new could make a big difference. So masts are going up every month. what can you do now? The cost of 4G and 5G dongles (which use the network to provide Use the new “Universal Service wifi in your home) is also coming Obligation” (USO) to request down. Mobile signals in rural areas minimum speeds of 10 Mbps from can be greatly enhanced by using an BT. The USO came into effect in external aerial and amplifier. Aerials April 2020 – more information is can be installed quickly and available on the OFCOM website. relatively cheaply in most cases. Apply for a Community Fibre Using this technique can enable Partnership by teaming up with signals to be received in areas neighbours (the more the better) where normal handsets are unable and applying on the Openreach to get a service at all. Each of the website. Openreach will do the four main suppliers (EE, Vodafone, planning and give you a quote. You O2, Three) offers fixed location data get an automatic Rural Gigabit tariffs at reasonable rates. These Voucher discount of £1,500 per are cheaper than standard mobile household and £3,500 per phone data contracts. So as soon as business. There may be a balance the mobile signals improve this to pay but Hampshire County mobile data solution will become a Council has a top-up fund of £1m highly attractive option for many which could be applied to. houses. Those are the two options available Now I come to the second cause for now. For those who are prepared to optimism: the Conservative be patient, I do believe there are Government is determined to deliver grounds for optimism about the on its manifesto commitment to coming 12-18 month period. This is achieve “gigabit broadband for two reasons: coverage” for every home by 2025. First, the technology is improving all The Department for Digital, Culture, the time and mobile signals are also Media and Sport (DCMS) has

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18 secured funding from HM Treasury STROUD PARISH COUNCIL of £5bn over a five-year timeframe to deliver on this commitment. REPORT Bonhomie abounded for the VE Day DCMS is developing plans to deliver celebrations on Friday 8th May as a supply-side proposal which is streets opened up, tables, chairs likely to involve procurements, run and umbrellas appeared in centrally by DCMS, to secure driveways and (from a safe delivery of gigabit capable distance) neighbour greeted broadband services to bundles of neighbour. Between bunting and premises. DCMS has indicated that buns, words of encouragement, it will target the 20% of premises in hope and humour circulated around the UK which market forces will not the village, accompanied by music. reach. DCMS plans to create As the air filled with the murmur and bundles for procurement of 3,000 chatter of celebration it was very premises at a time. HCC cannot easy to forget about COVID-19 for a predict when bundles relating to couple of hours before we had to Hampshire will enter the come back to the reality of the procurement process, but we present. remain actively engaged with DCMS to influence this process. We will On Tuesday 12th May Stroud Parish know more about the location of any Council held its first online lockdown Hampshire bundles later this year. meeting – maybe the first of many Fingers crossed! to come. It took the form of the AGM followed by a council meeting. The The Internet has effectively become minutes will appear on our a utility which is integral to our community notice board and everyday lives. I hope that this website shortly. In the fullness of article makes you feel more positive time the council will meet in the about the future of rural broadband village hall in Ramsdean Road at a and I hope that some of you will be new time in the month, namely the able to successfully explore the fourth Tuesday. In time details will opportunities mentioned above for be found on the website – improving your broadband speeds. www.stroud-pc.gov.uk . Our next By Russell Oppenheimer meeting will take place on 28th July. County Councillor for Petersfield A big thankyou to everyone giving Hangers help and support to those in

19 difficulty at this time of lockdown in their distance when working. Since our community. Further details can March we have had the most be found of the host of volunteers glorious weather which has allowed and organisations in our community us to catch up with all the planned information box in Ramsdean Road drilling of the crops, and with the and also in last month’s Steep and occasional rain this has established Stroud Newsletter (no 581) on the cereals really well. pages 13-15. Fortunately again, all of our staff Cllr Alan Burges [email protected], or and families have stayed well, so Mrs Liz Foulston (the Parish Clerk) – other than some inconvenience [email protected] regarding keeping one person to one tractor, and maintaining THREE FARMS AND COVID isolation wherever possible, the farming operation has been Coping with Lockdown on New relatively unaffected so far. We Buildings Farm: must keep on our toes as CV – 19 We had suffered with one of the is still very much around, and with wettest winters on record. In fact, such a small workforce on the farm we had had our annual rainfall in nowadays anyone getting ill or self- just 6 months, so we were mightily isolating will have a profound effect relieved when it stopped raining in on the farming operation going the middle of March. Because of forward and especially at the fast- the wet autumn and winter we had approaching harvest period. been unable to sow any of the normal cereal crops and all the seed Lastly, a polite reminder to the remained in the barn. When it did public to keep to designated foot- start to dry up and allow us onto the paths when out walking, and not to fields, we had the National be tempted to wander off the public Coronavirus lockdown. Fortunately, rights of way when out in the agriculture was given key worker countryside. status so we could continue to work. Oliver Howe We therefore operated, and still do, Rothercombe Farm a policy of allocating one driver to Andrew Snow is heavily into lambing each tractor wherever possible, and at present, but he has asked me to if there is a change of driver then the pass on this message: machine is sanitised. Although our staff work as a team, they can keep “Andy and the whole family are up to

20 our eyes in lambing. It is such a busy on the news since December, it all time with 1000 ewes giving birth in seemed to happen so quickly. I about four weeks and then the certainly didn’t think it would really following weeks are also pretty ever affect us, until I realised my hectic with follow-on jobs. work trip visiting schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy might be affected. Due We are grateful to the villagers for to go on 14 March, that was of keeping to the footpaths, with their course postponed as they had gone dogs under close control, as the last into lockdown the previous week. thing we need is ewes and lambs to Little did we realise we would follow be disturbed as they are bonding. two weeks later and how long Angela Snow lockdown would continue. Aldersnapp Farm Normally we welcome over forty 0-5 Lockdown for myself in a working years olds into our nursery every capacity has not changed a great day and have nearly 20 staff on deal. Livestock, as I’m sure Andrew payroll. When the announcement would agree, care very little about was made 23 March for all lock down, and indeed social nurseries to close life became a distancing. The biggest change for rollercoaster. So many decisions to me currently is a distinct lack of make, not knowing what was right Grandparents in the role of or wrong. Most staff were childcare! Therefor an extra ball has furloughed but we stayed open for a been added to the juggle, with my couple of key-worker children. wife being a teacher and still going During this time we have managed into school on a regular basis. On a to keep everyone safe using the final note, I do think it is fantastic to guidance provided by PHE – hand see more people out walking in the washing, no PPE, no parents or countryside and indeed having more visitors in the building and regular time to stop and watch the farming deep cleaning. There is no point processes that perhaps would trying to maintain social distancing normally go unnoticed. with early years; it is impossible in a nursery environment. Harvey Coles To help our non-key worker parents, NURSERY LIFE IN LOCKDOWN our nursery team kindly offered to AND THE UNKNOWN BENEFITS deliver daily activities for the Despite hearing about Coronavirus children to do along with story-time

21 twice a day and singing. All our been made from this unprecedented children and key worker parents time; which makes you wonder, as have been offered a catch up zoom we return to normal, perhaps we meeting, making sure we keep should change our mindset of what contact and we are still familiar to we wish our normal to be? them, helping the settling period Fiona Rowden when reopening time comes. STROUD VILLAGE HALL UPDATE Although the number of families effected by Covid is tragic, there are The Trustees of Stroud Village Hall many positive effects that I’d like to And Residents Association have hold onto. Home-schooling my spent many months preparing and children is challenging to say the planning for the grand opening of least but the precious family time, the Village Hall. Sadly, because of to avoidance of the daily rush, chaos, the Coronavirus outbreak building work stress and school run have work has been temporarily halted improved life enormously over the and the grand opening is now past two months. postponed. I do believe many parents, myself It is likely that when work re-starts it included, have never spent so much will be at a slower pace than time at home with their children. previously, to comply with social- Whilst this may not always be a distancing and other safety good thing for some, many babies protocols so it is a bit of a stab in and children will have benefited the dark as to when the hall may be from having both parents at home, handed over to the trustees. Best enjoying the simple pleasures in life estimate at the moment is October - such as walks, bike rides, as a shell which then has to be gardening, cards and boardgames. fitted out. Most of this would not be happening So, with a fair wind we could be if we were still in the usual hustle looking at some warm up events in and bustle of life lockdown. December and trial activities in the I know grandparents are becoming new year prior to a formal opening in more at ease with Facetime, many March (Jeremy and Jo are attending reading virtual stories and keeping several ‘Zoom’ briefings over the more in touch with their families next few weeks to hear what other than they did before. Village Halls are doing to be ‘Covid Compliant’ and safe for users, staff Many wonderful memories have 22 and volunteers. STEEP FLOWER SHOW PLANT This has however given plenty of SALE time to plan and make the Instead of the usual annual plant necessary behind the scenes sale, which wasn’t possible this year arrangements to make the hall safe because of the lockdown, six Flower and welcoming, ensuring it is kitted Show committee members set up out with all the essentials to make it plant stalls at their gates on the perfect space for any occasion – Saturday 9 May. But would anyone and take into account any changes come? We needn’t have doubted. necessary post-Covid. The pink posters, Facebook We will be providing a hub for social mentions and the mysterious but activities, engaging classes and wonderful Steep grapevine all did essential services for our rural their work. A lot of people walked community. Meeting the needs of the full circuit – Bell Hill, Church our local community, supporting and Road and Harrow Lane, collecting encouraging local charitable plants en route. There were queues organisations and offering a safe like Waitrose in Harrow Lane, and and accessible space for all. altogether it gave the village a lovely social event – at an appropriate We are looking forward to distance. welcoming you all and sharing our wonderful new space with you. Altogether over £900 was collected, an amazing amount, helped by a Best wishes and stay safe from all very generous donation from Claire at Stroud Village Hall and Residents & Nisa at the Harrow. I think that Association because we were collecting for covid You can follow us on Facebook or -related charities as well as the visit our website to stay up-to-date show, many people took, say, £5 with all of our news worth of plants but put £10 in the pot. stroudvillagehall.org Good causes supported were If you would like to enquire about Homestart Butser, (supporting hiring the hall, or holding an event struggling families), Refuge there, please email the hall (supporting victims of domestic manager Jo at violence), free soft drinks for the [email protected] staff at Winchester Hospital, the Jeremy Mitchell and Joanne Sweet Petersfield Food Bank and a local group making scrubs. 23 We are still hoping that somehow methods of seeking views on this the show can take place, and the important element of the project. schedule is in this newsletter. The Steep In Need Trustees and Watch out for posters, look on Steep War Memorial Village Club steepvillage.com, and tap into to the Trustees are committed to a full village grapevine, and hopefully, see consultation programme with the you in August. village on planning and designs for News just received: the show will not the site. The Trustees of both be in its usual place at Bedales. We charities will work with the preferred hope to make alternative developer to plan this consultation arrangements. Watch this space process which will commence as next month . Something will happen. soon as practicable. Stay safe. Kate Ford. Any questions or comments should CHURCH ROAD LAND be directed to Jenny Hollington, our Parish Clerk [email protected] As residents will recall, two community update sessions – STEEP PARISH COUNCIL sponsored by Steep Parish Council - Steep Parish Council Update have been held about the future of Traffic Update the development land in Church As you may be aware, we have been Road, the most recent one on 21st working closely with the Traffic January. The extensive list of Management team at Hampshire questions raised in those public County Council (HCC) to try and meetings has been published, implement various traffic calming together with answers, on the Parish measures in Steep and are pleased Council website www.steep- to report another major step forward pc.gov.uk The first of two further in our traffic management plan. HCC consultation meetings to explore have agreed to cbegin a formal community wishes for that part of application process to extend to the the site that will be dedicated public existing 30mph zone on C18 Bell open space was scheduled for Hill/Stoner Hill and to extend the March 24th but had to be cancelled 40mph zone on the C18 Stoner Hill. in the light of the virus outbreak. The proposal consists of a north- We hope to reopen these wards extension of the existing consultations as soon as possible 30mph speed limit around the bend and will be considering alternative adjacent to Stoner House and a

24 northwards extension of the existing Hampshire residents) 9am to 5pm 40mph speed limit to include the Monday to Friday by email: Island area and the bend in the road [email protected] above Island. We are hopeful that, in conjunction with the Parish Council Meetings implementation of village gates and In these unusual times we are doing the road markings which have everything we can to keep business already been put in place, this running as normal whilst also taking change in speed limit will government advice and helping our significantly reduce the speed of community wherever possible and traffic coming into the village. necessary. Whilst we are very pleased with this We are continuing to hold Parish proposed reduction in speed limit, Council meetings, albeit virtually. we will continue to work on the The next meeting will be held on traffic project to make our village Monday 1st June. If you would like to safer for everyone. submit public comment, please do so in advance to Jenny Hollington at Parish Council Supports Citizens [email protected]. Advice Bureau (CAB) Members of the public can join the In recognition for the support that online Microsoft Teams meeting CAB have provided to Steep using the code available on the residents in the past year and with agenda. As usual, the agenda can their continued efforts to support be found on the noticeboards or on the community in a difficult and our website. troubling time, the Parish Council have donated £300 to CAB to help Annual Parish Assembly them to continue their important Unfortunately we have had to cancel work for our community and the the Steep Annual Parish Assembly. surrounding areas. CAB provide free, We will continue to use the confidential and impartial advice on newsletter to keep you updated with a wide range of issues including news and ongoing matters and, as employment matters, family always, should you have any problems and financial concerns. questions or queries which you We remind Steep residents that this would like the Parish Council to service is free to anyone and should you address, please email Jenny wish to contact them please do so Hollington at using the details below. [email protected]. Adviceline 0300 330 9028 (East 25

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26 CHURCH NEWS

VIRTUAL SERVICES communion in Steep church on 10 May. We saw Gerald playing the Our churches have been without organ, (previously recorded), and we their congregations since Mothering could admire the beautiful flowers Sunday on 22 March. We have by Bubbles Silk. Susie was also however been blessed by the greeted by a flower arrangement in services that John and Susie have the porch at High Cross. We are put on line since our church fortunate in our clergy and support buildings have been closed, mostly team; I am sure I speak for everyone conducted from their studies, but when I say Thank You for leading us since mid- May from our churches. so beautifully until we can gather Currently there is a service at 10am again. on a Sunday, and Evening Prayer at 5pm on a Wednesday though of FROM THE REGISTER course these can be viewed and Ivy Constance Lettice Lacey-Smith revisited any time on the internet. (95) Funeral 18 May 2020 Over the weeks we have seen other participants taking part, Lindsay Amanda Greenlee reading the lesson and Oli Piper playing organ pieces, and these services regularly have up to 90 viewers. On 10 May Tamsin included a clip of CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXES her making a prayer bracelet and The amount raised from collecting her sons Dexter and Digby gave the boxes (and including other dona- blessing. On the 17th it was the tions) in Steep and Stroud over the Ansons’ turn, with Inigo reading last year until March 2020 came to from a tree, Celeste from a gate and £329. 97. Thank you to all in- Rollo joining them at the finish with volved, it is much appreciated by all three on a slide! the Society which provides care, mentoring and support for vulnera- Whilst the laity cannot enter ble children in the UK. churches at present it was Fiona Littlejohn (Box Coordinator) wonderful to join John as he took

27 STEEP - Every Thursday: Silent Prayer 6.30pm continues in our own homes. Please join us wherever you are.

Vicar: Rev Canon John Owen 264282 [email protected] Associate Priest: Susie Collingridge [email protected] Lay Pastoral Assistant: Lindsay Clegg, 827505 [email protected] Reader: Caroline Hilton 263460 Churchwarden: Helen Muir-Davies 264039 or mobile 07831 267805 Church website: http://steepfroxfield.com

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